Be the Referee: Foot Save in Volleyball
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Director of Brand Management
October 20, 2026
Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
Below is this week's segment – Foot Save in Volleyball - Listen
We have a soccer move today – but we’re on the volleyball court. Let me explain.
Team A dumps the ball over the net. A player for Team B is not able to get her hands on it but kicks it up into the air before it touches the ground. The ball is then set up for a spike, which delivers Team B a point. Or does it?
Is kicking the ball a legal move?
It is. Play would continue with the kick counting as the first touch. Team B is then able to set and spike as they would if the first hit came from a player’s hand.
There’s no rule against making a save with your foot, as long as the ball doesn’t touch the ground.
Previous 2026-27 editions
Oct. 13: Soccer Advantage - Listen
Oct. 6: Defensive Holding - Listen
Sept. 29: Minimum Number of Volleyball Players - Listen
Sept 22: Soccer Changes - Listen
Sept: 15: Dead Ball Penalty - Listen
Sept. 8: Libero Ejected - Listen
Sept. 1: Soccer Foul After Shot on Goal - Listen
Aug. 25: Fumble Out of Bounds - Listen
Highlight Reel: Class C Semifinals
November 21, 2014
The Schoolcraft volleyball team defeated Roscommon 3-2 in a Class C Semifinal on Thursday, and Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central followed with a 3-2 defeat of Unionville-Sebewaing. Click the headings below for highlights:
BUCKS WORKING OVERTIME - Katie Tozer keeps the game alive in the third set for Roscommon with a nice spike. Schoolcraft won the set, 27-25, and continued the rally to come from two down to win, 3-2, in this Class C Semifinal.
SUSELAND GETS THE POINT - After a long rally, Schoolcraft's Jayci Suseland ends it with a kill. Roscommon jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the Eagles rallied to advance.
BACK-TO-BACK FOR GREMEL - Early in the first set, Unionville-Sebewaing's Kayla Gremel came up with two big kills. Here's the second point.
ACES FOR HAUT - The second set went to extra time between Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central and Unionville-Sebewaing. After scoring to put her team up, SMCC's Cassandra Haut ends the set with a service ace.
Watch the matches in full and order DVDs by Clicking Here for Roscommon/Schoolcraft and Clicking Here for St. Mary/USA.